When kindergarten teachers learn English

Many preschool teachers in Ho Chi Minh City, especially young teachers in public schools, are improving their expertise and English proficiency to prepare for the city's strategy of making English the second language in schools.

As the largest city in the country, after the merger, Ho Chi Minh City has more than 5,000 preschool educational establishments, more than half a million children; more than 64,000 administrators, teachers, and preschool staff. In the new context, with the city always being a pioneer in education and training development, teachers must proactively improve their capacity to adapt to changes.

Ms. Ai, Ms. Thu, Mr. Duy (from left to right) , dynamic preschool teachers who never stop learning

PHOTO: THUY HANG

Being a teacher does not mean stopping learning. When teachers diligently read books and learn about the fields, children are motivated to love learning.

Ms. VO THI MY AI (Teacher at Soc Nau Kindergarten, An Hoi Tay Ward, Ho Chi Minh City)

Eager teachers motivate children

Ms. Vo Thi My Ai, 34 years old, teacher at Soc Nau Kindergarten, An Hoi Tay Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, came to the teaching profession because of her love for children. That is the reason why, although she initially studied hotel and restaurant management, after getting married and becoming a mother of 2 children, she went to study for a degree in preschool education (Ho Chi Minh City University of Education) to stick with the job of nurturing, caring for, and educating children for many years. Currently, she is both working and studying for a 2nd degree in English at a university.

"As a preschool teacher, we will help stabilize the class and support children in taking care of them during English lessons with foreign teachers. Besides, in some educational activities at school, I can integrate knowledge units, helping children review vocabulary learned in English lessons, such as numbers, colors, animals, etc., helping them love learning foreign languages," Ms. Ai shared.

Ms. My Ai received many awards and certificates of merit during her work such as Excellent Teacher at City level for the 2024-2025 school year; Excellent Teacher at school and district level (before July 1, 2025, still at district/county level); Outstanding Young Teacher of Ho Chi Minh City in 2024; Certificate of merit from Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee for the 2023-2024 school year.

She shared the reason for studying for a second degree in English because knowing a foreign language, especially English, helps teachers gain a broader knowledge base. "Being a teacher does not mean stopping learning. When teachers diligently read books and learn about different fields, children are motivated to learn more," said Ms. Ai.

Teacher Thai Hong Duy is always loved by children.

PHOTO: THUY HANG

DO NOT CONSIDER TEACHING CHILDREN TO FAMILIARIZE ENGLISH IS ONLY THE JOB OF ENGLISH TEACHERS

This year, 30 years old, Ms. Nguyen Anh Thu has been a teacher at Tan Phong Kindergarten, Tan Hung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City for more than 6 years. Graduated from the Central Pedagogical College, then got a degree in preschool education from Vinh University, with a certificate of English proficiency as required, but Ms. Thu believes that in order to be stable in her career and do her job better, studying cannot stop.

In addition to participating in regular professional development programs of the school, the professional cluster, and the Department of Education and Training, Ms. Thu actively studies on her own to improve her expertise. In addition to the skills of caring for, nurturing, and educating children, she also learns about AI in lesson design. At the same time, according to Ms. Thu, preschool children today are very intelligent, many of them have the ability to listen and speak English quite well, which requires teachers to also improve their English skills.

Ms. Thu said that preschool children usually have 2 sessions/week, each session is 30 minutes, to get acquainted with English with foreign teachers. In this activity, the teacher in charge will support the foreign teacher to stabilize the class and take care of the children. This is also an opportunity for Ms. Thu to observe the teaching methods of foreign teachers, the content that children love..., from which she can apply in the educational activities she organizes.

"Children absorb new languages ​​quickly and naturally. They can learn English through songs, stories, and daily communication with teachers. In my opinion, for English to become the second language in schools, children should be exposed to the English environment more, not only from foreign teachers but also from the teachers who work with them every day. This will be effective in the long run," said Ms. Thu. This is also the reason why she often organizes English lessons for children through some simple songs and dances, talks with children at the beginning of class, reminds children to drink water, wash their hands, etc.

Ms. Thu teaches children English through songs.

PHOTO: THUY HANG

M OPENS UP MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO ACCESS CREATIVE KNOWLEDGE SOURCES

Outstanding young teacher of Ho Chi Minh City in 2024, Mr. Thai Hong Duy, 30 years old, teacher of 19/5 City Kindergarten (Tan Dinh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) also has a series of titles and awards. Mr. Duy is an excellent teacher at the school level in the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years; certificate of merit from the Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City; certificate of merit from the Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City; excellent preschool teacher at the city level in the 2024-2025 school year...

Mr. Duy graduated from the Faculty of Preschool Education of Saigon University, and also graduated with a bachelor's degree in English from a university. The male teacher said that he is aware of the importance of foreign languages ​​today; at the same time, English also opens up many opportunities to access creative sources of knowledge, helping teachers gain more rich knowledge. The teacher shared: "I studied a second degree in English to improve my English, improve my limitations in pronunciation, vocabulary, and communication with foreigners."

Mr. Duy said that at the 19/5 City Kindergarten, the lessons for children to get acquainted with English are taught entirely by native teachers. Mr. Duy helps arrange the classroom environment, prepare teaching equipment, manage the discipline of study groups, helping students learn effectively. In addition, during the fun activities in class, Mr. Duy helps children listen, practice and review English songs of the lesson topic so that children can remember vocabulary best...

Ms. Ai in activities to help children recognize colors and name colors in English

PHOTO: THUY HANG

Preschool teachers want to be properly trained to be more confident.

According to the Ministry of Education and Training, by 2030, it is necessary to add about 12,000 preschool English teachers, nearly 10,000 primary school English teachers, and train at least 200,000 teachers capable of teaching in English to implement the strategy of English as a second language in schools.

According to Circular No. 50/2020 of the Ministry of Education and Training on promulgating the English introduction program for preschool children, Vietnamese teachers are eligible to participate in the organization when meeting one of the following criteria: (a) Have a college degree or higher in English pedagogy, English language, English; have completed a professional training program on preschool education pedagogy or methods for children to get acquainted with English organized by a college or university that trains preschool teachers. (b) Have a college degree or higher in preschool education, have an English proficiency certificate at level 4 or higher according to the 6-level foreign language proficiency framework for Vietnam.

With the above regulations, preschool teachers with a degree in 2 English languages ​​are qualified to teach English at school. However, Mr. Thai Hong Duy said: "In order to effectively teach English to children at school, teachers themselves must consult and learn the content of the English program appropriate to the age group they are working in, thereby building for themselves enough knowledge to teach by topic and practice pronunciation skills to be the most accurate so that children can access the most accurate knowledge from the beginning."

From there, Mr. Duy suggested: "Programs for preschool children to get acquainted with English have been implemented, and effective methods in schools can be analyzed and modeled in intensive training sessions for teachers, so that teachers can promptly grasp knowledge and methods."

Ms. Nguyen Anh Thu also hopes that the city's preschool teachers will be able to participate in formal training courses on skills and methods for preschool children to become familiar with English.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/khi-giao-vien-mam-non-hoc-tieng-anh-185251029191128601.htm